Get Inspired

Off-site dining, whether in the form of takeout, delivery, grab & go, or catering, is a major revenue category for restaurants, and according to trend watchers, it shows no sign of slowing down. Learn more about your options for takeout.

As tempting as it might be, quietly opening your doors and slapping an “Open” sign on the window isn’t exactly a great way to generate buzz in your community. Embrace the excitement inherent in opening a new restaurant with a strategic launch plan.

Restaurant Week mean different things for chefs, cooks, guests, and food writers. Some cooks and servers grumble about ‘amateur diners’ who tip poorly and never return. While guests and writers sometimes complain about a lack of creativity in menus. But participating in Restaurant Week presents an opportunity to attract customers and create lifelong fans.

Tackling the issue of food waste isn’t just about saving food from landing in the trash can, though that is certainly part of it. It’s about changing the way chefs and consumers think about food in the first place.

Whether it’s pro or college football, basketball, hockey, or baseball playoffs, big games can have a big impact on your restaurant’s business. So, how do you make sure your customers are happy regardless of if their favorite team is home or away?

To maintain or establish any profitable business, you must be aware of your changing environments and always be focused on expanding your customer base. The current generation, called Millennials, is the largest and most influential generation since the Baby Boomers. As Millennials make up 25% of the current population,* an active restaurateur should market and adapt their business to attract these new customers to their foodservice operation.

There was a time when lobster supplies were at best, erratic. It was mostly a luxury food that wasn’t often seen on menus except as a seasonal special or in exclusive restaurants able to regularly get a small share of the limited annual supply. Fortunately, times have changed.

Brunch. Ask any of your staff, front of house or back, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: They hate it. The problem, as a restauranteur, is can you afford to ignore it? Like it or not, brunch is a hot trend that shows no sign of letting up. Brunch creates buzz, Monday morning around the office coffee maker, and is the perfect vehicle for people who want to try your restaurant but aren’t quite ready to commit to the expense of a full dinner.